2010 Awardee: Chloe Gough

The impact this award will have on my ability to study in Boston is phenomenal, thank you so much.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Originally from Duncanstone, a small village outside Insch in Aberdeenshire, Chloe graduated from the University of Dundee with a degree in fine art and philosophy.

Chloe’s work has been described as delicate, poetic and quietly engaging. One of the top students in her year, Chloe was selected to exhibit in the competitive and prestigious RSA New Contemporary exhibition in 2010. Following the exhibition, she was awarded the David and June Gordon Memorial Trust prize and the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh Purchase prize. Considered to be a hugely talented and original painter, she has exhibited in a number of high-profile galleries.

Chloe moves to Boston for a year to participate in an intensive year of studio art study and practice.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award has enabled Chloe to pursue postgraduate studies in visual art at the School of The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Since the Award

A day that Chloe will remember for the rest of her life is being invited, as part of the community of artists at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, to spend a day life drawing from the Boston Ballet Company during rehearsal. Moreover, she enjoyed access to the archives of the Boston Museum of Fine Art and through that link was invited to be a guest lecturer at a first-year undergraduate class at the Boston College of Art and Design. Chloe writes that she returned to Scotland ‘with a wonderful and newly invigorated work ethic and absolute dedication to my practice.’

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The impact this award will have on my ability to study in Boston is phenomenal, thank you so much.

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2010 Awardee: Andrew Cumming

I have aspired to be a film-maker since I was seventeen years old, and with the excellent support from the School and now your generous contribution to my education I feel better prepared than ever to achieve my goal.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 28
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Brought up in Leven, Fife, Andrew Cumming has wanted to make films since he was a teenager. In 2003, he graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art with a first-class degree. Since then he has self-funded the making of a series of short films. In 2006 he set up a media production company to make promotional films for local and national clients.

His true passion lies with narrative fiction and his own shorts, often made for less than £400, have been nominated for, and won, several awards in Edinburgh, London, Wales and Poland. In 2010 Creative Scotland described him as a “young talent to watch”.

Andrew’s ultimate ambition is to make his first feature film in his native Scotland.

Andrew was offered one of the eight places at NFTS to study directing fiction, fighting off competition from just under 400 aspiring young film directors from all over the world.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help Andrew study for an MA in Directing Fiction at the prestigious NFTS.

After a successful first year, Andrew’s support has been continued into the second year.

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I have aspired to be a film-maker since I was seventeen years old, and with the excellent support from the School and now your generous contribution to my education I feel better prepared than ever to achieve my goal.

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2010 Awardee: Asif Ali

This is more than I could have expected and more than I anticipated and I am thankful and grateful for all your assistance that I have received towards me achieving my goals.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 26
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Born in Halifax and brought up in Paisley from the age of ten, Asif was selected to participate in the national Second Light Initiative, a film production-based training scheme for young people from diverse backgrounds, where his talent and creative eye stood out.

As a result of this participation, Asif subsequently worked on the BBC’s How Not to Live Your Life, Shed Media’s innovative online drama Being Victor (subsequently picked up by STV) and was location marshall for the up-coming comedy Captain America. His adaptation of Edwin Morgan’s poem In the Snack Bar will be premiered at the 2011 Glasgow Film Festival.

Asif is conscious of being the first Scottish Asian to be accepted by the prestigious NFTS in London. One of his long-term ambitions is to encourage more British young people from ethnic backgrounds to enter the film industry. He is to date the most successful apprentice on Second Light Initiative and his mentors point to his passion, talent and commitment as the reasons for his success in beating off the considerable competition.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help Asif to pursue an MA in Film Production at NFTS.

After a successful first year, Asif’s support has been continued into the second year.

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This is more than I could have expected and more than I anticipated and I am thankful and grateful for all your assistance that I have received towards me achieving my goals.

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2010 Awardee: Louise Alder

Thank you so much for considering me, I cannot tell you what a difference this will make to my life next year. To be supported by such a prestigious trust is an honour.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

London-born Louise Alder studied music at the University of Edinburgh and is considered to be one of the very best singers the Music Department have had in recent years. While at Edinburgh University, Louise won two prestigious singing competitions, the Edinburgh University Concerto Competition 2009 and the 2010 Margaret Fletcher Lieder Prize.

Louise is considered to be an outstanding talent with international potential of the highest quality. She has given memorable performances while still a student at Edinburgh, including Creation at the St Magnus Festival, Orkney, Bach Magnificat in St Giles’ Cathedral and Carmina Burana in St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh. Her performance of Vixen in ‘The Cunning Little Vixen’ won great critical acclaim.

In the summer of 2010, she will be understudying the role of Euridice in Peri’s ‘Euridice’ with the British Youth Opera and will perform the role of Musetta in the OperaUpClose production of ‘La Bohème’. She is a Britten Pears Young Artist.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will enable Louise to pursue a Master of Vocal Performance at the Royal College of Music in London. After an excellent first year, Louise’s funding was extended for a second and final year.

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Thank you so much for considering me, I cannot tell you what a difference this will make to my life next year. To be supported by such a prestigious trust is an honour.

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2010 Awardee: Lewis Anderson

I would like to express my gratitude to the trustees of the Dewar Arts Awards for considering me. This award will make my time in London much more productive and rewarding.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Paisley-born Lewis gained a place at the Douglas Academy Music School after showing exceptional promise in his early years at primary school. There he was taught by Jo Pacewicz, clarinettist with the RSNO. In Primary 7 he entered the RSAMD Junior programme. In 2009, Lewis sat Advanced Higher Music and received the highest marks in Scotland.

In 2010, Lewis performed with NYOS, conducted by Diego Masson, and as part of a trio won the Aillie Cullen Memorial Prize at the Glasgow Music Festival for the best performance of the festival. He has also been playing principal clarinet in the West of Scotland Schools Symphony Orchestra where he had the opportunity to conduct the orchestra, under the watchful eye of James Lowe.

Lewis is considered to be one of the most exciting woodwind instrumentalists in Scotland of his generation of young musicians, showing exceptional musical intelligence and originality in his playing. When Lewis was offered a place to study music at the Royal College of Music, he writes that “to be offered a place … was beyond anything I ever imagined I would achieve, and my perspective shifted at that point to not just trying my best but actually being the best I could be.”

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help him financially as he starts his undergraduate studies at the Royal College of Music in London.

After a very successful first year at the Royal College of Music, the trustees were pleased to extend their support of Lewis into his second year.

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I would like to express my gratitude to the trustees of the Dewar Arts Awards for considering me. This award will make my time in London much more productive and rewarding.

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2010 Awardee: Michael Clark

I would like to express thanks for the opportunity [you] have given me: [the support] will enable me to focus more on my studies rather than working to support my living costs.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 19
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Glasgow born and raised, Michael has performed with a variety of orchestras, including the BBC Merchant Sinfonia, NYOS, the National Youth Wind Ensemble of Scotland and Strathclyde University Orchestra. He studied with Heather Corbett under the Continuing Education Course at RSAMD.

Before leaving Springburn Academy in 2009, Michael completed the Associated Board exams achieving grade 8 with distinction in percussion, grade 4 in guitar and grade 7 with merit in piano. He was successful in gaining a place at the Royal Northern College of Music to study for a degree in music.

Michael’s goal is to become a professional musician.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Award will help towards the tuition, maintenance and other costs while he’s studying at RNCM.

After a successful first year at the Royal Northern College of Music, the trustees were pleased to extend their support of Michael into his second year.

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I would like to express thanks for the opportunity [you] have given me: [the support] will enable me to focus more on my studies rather than working to support my living costs.

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2010 Awardee: Rebecca Donnelly

This means so much to me and has enabled me to stay at college and follow my dream.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS:
 
 
 

Biography

Born and brought up in Glasgow, Rebecca stood out from an early age as possessing talent in acting, singing and dancing. As she developed, her dedication and commitment matched her talent and enthusiasm. Rebecca gained an A in Higher Music, scoring the highest possible mark for her singing exam.

Rebecca’s ambition is to perform on the main musical theatre stages of the world. Her tutors and mentors feel that this is a realistic ambition, given her exceptional triple threat qualities.

As part of the dance troupe “The Fusion”, Rebecca performed on live TV in the semi-finals of “Britain’s Got Talent” and later at the Glasgow show and also with “The X Factor” tour.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will support Rebecca as she begins her studies in dance and musical theatre at the Bird College, Kent. Demonstrating good progress, Rebecca’s funding has been continued into a second year.

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This means so much to me and has enabled me to stay at college and follow my dream.

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2010 Awardee: Kathryn Elkin

I am absolutely delighted that you have considered my application to be worthy of support.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 27
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

From Belfast, Kathryn has spent nine years in Scotland, first as a visual art student at the Glasgow School of Art and later working and taking an active part in Glasgow’s vibrant cultural scene in both visual arts and music.

In 2008 she curated the successful exhibition ‘Moot Points’ in the Transmission Gallery which is described as a “watershed moment in re-evaluating the activities of the organisation after its twenty-year history”. Kathryn went on to curate an exciting series of talks and presentations by artists at the Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow. She has shown her own work in Transmission, performed readings at Cove Park and CCA Glasgow and been published in the journal 2HB, Gnomerro (ed. Sarah Tripp) and, most recently, Options With Nostrils.

At the Glasgow International 2010, Kathryn was one of four artists who exhibited at ‘Sym-po-zeum’ in the Mitchell Library as part of “Open Glasgow”. She has been accepted onto the Goldsmith’s College MFA course in Art Writing, which ideally suits the development of her own work as a text-based visual artist.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will enable Kathryn to pursue an MFA on a part-time basis at Goldsmiths.

After a successful first year at Goldsmiths, Kathryn’s award was extended for a second year to enable her to complete an MFA part-time.

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I am absolutely delighted that you have considered my application to be worthy of support.

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2010 Awardee: James Gardner

This is an extremely exciting time for me, none of what is about to happen to me … would have been possible without your support.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Glasgow-born James has wanted to study fashion at Central St Martin’s for as long as he can remember. He studied textiles and surface design at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen, from where he graduated with a first-class degree.

While an undergraduate, James was a finalist in the UK Knitting Association Student Competition and received an Arts Vacation Scholarship from The Cross Trust to undertake research in Sri Lanka. In his final year he won the Society of Dyers and Colorists design competition.

After graduation, James went on to work as UK colourist with Berluti, London, where he impressed with his maturity and grasp of colour. He worked on developing new colours for their product collection shoes and accessories. He has also worked for Mumo, a fair-trade fabric company as a textile and product stylist and consultant.

James has had his work shown on the catwalk at the Clotheshow Live and Dressed to Kilt event in New York, hosted by Sir Sean Connery. He was offered a place on the masters degree course at Central St Martins which will allow him to show his first major fashion collection as part of London Fashion Week.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will contribute towards the substantial fees and living expenses to study at Central St Martins.

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This is an extremely exciting time for me, none of what is about to happen to me … would have been possible without your support.

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2010 Awardee: Jennifer Gray

I would like to express my gratitude to the trust for awarding me with such a generous grant and assure you that I will be entering my studies in London with full enthusiasm and total dedication to justify the faith shown to me by the Dewar Arts Awards.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 26
ARTFORMS: , ,
WEBSITE:https://www.jennifergray.co.uk
 
 

Biography

Motherwell born and bred, Jennifer graduated with a first-class degree from the Glasgow School of Art in 2006. Since then she has lived and worked in Glasgow, London and the Isle of Skye on various collaborative design projects.

Her work has been shown at Dazzle, Gallery Marzee (Holland), The Collins Gallery (Glasgow), The Roger Billcliffe Gallery (Glasgow) and Goldsmith’s Hall. In 2006 she won the Joint Incorporation of Hammersmith Memorial Prize and since then has won a host of awards and bursaries in recognition of her work.

Until recently Jennifer was a part-time lecturer with Glasgow Metropolitan College and Artist in Residence at the Jewellry and Silversmithing Department of the Glasgow School of Art. The work produced as part of the residency is on show in the AIR10 exhibition in galleries throughout the UK.

Jennifer is already acknowledged as a fine jeweller, but is considered to be equally talented as a draughtswoman and as a sculptor. She has recently completed a successful commission for a series of silver ‘beasties’ to serve as table place-markers and based on the Queen’s Beasts.

Jennifer has been accepted onto the highly prestigious MA course in Silversmithing at the Royal College of Art, London. For further information about Jennifer’s work, see www.jennifergray.co.uk.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards will help support Jennifer during her postgraduate studies at RCA. After demonstrating excellent progress in the first year, Jennifer’s award was extended for a second and final year.

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I would like to express my gratitude to the trust for awarding me with such a generous grant and assure you that I will be entering my studies in London with full enthusiasm and total dedication to justify the faith shown to me by the Dewar Arts Awards.

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